RETAIL STRATEGY AND URBAN CENTER DEVELOPMENT

RETAIL STRATEGY FOR CENTRAL PORTLAND

Bill Lee and Tanya Chiranakhon led a team retained by the City of Portland to conduct the Central Portland Retail Research and Analysis Study. Central Portland is characterized by a variety of retail districts and neighborhoods. The study sought to understand the health of ten unique retail districts, their potential for growth over the next 20 years, and how they relate to and complement each other in the context of a vibrant, diverse and evolving Central Portland. The objective of this study was to provide economic guidance for long-term public policy and land use plans.

CLIENT: CITY OF PORTLAND BUREAU OF PLANNING

NORDSTROM HEADQUARTERS RETENTION IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE

The Downtown Seattle Association retained Bill Lee (while are ERA) to examine the impacts of a two-block development project intended to keep Nordstrom's corporate headquarters and flagship store in downtown Seattle. The development was comprised of a new Nordstrom Department Store and headquarters office, a high-end hotel, and an entertainment, retail and restaurant complex. Bill's analysis provided the critical justification for the City providing financial support of a public garage under the retail/entertainment complex. He was subsequently retained by the developer, Pine Street Associates, to prepare the market study necessary for project financing. Bill's work was instrumental in retaining Nordstrom's headquarters and flagship store as a defining element of Seattle's retail core.

CLIENT: DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AND PINE STREET ASSOCIATES

SINGAPORE’S ORCHARD ROAD RETAIL REVITALIZATION STRATEGY

Bill Lee served as the project manager for a major study to revitalize the retail potential of Orchard Road, Singapore’s premiere retail area and the top retail street in Asia. He recommended a policy to address the reinvestment challenges of strata title ownership of multi-owner vertical shopping centers, which was immediately implemented by the government.

LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency retained Bill Lee to be the lead real estate economist in examining joint development opportunities created around all Metro Rail Red Line stations. Bill was then invited back to be the lead economist for the city's Downtown Strategic Plan.